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Catfish in Black Bean Sauce

Play trailer Poster for Catfish in Black Bean Sauce PG-13 2000 1h 59m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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47% Tomatometer 15 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
An offbeat dramatic comedy about an African American couple who adopt two orphans, a brother and sister from a Vietnamese refugee camp. After twenty-two years, Mal, the sister locates their birth mother, who was separated from her children during the war, and brings her to America, while Dwayne, the brother has conflicting feelings concerning the new arrival. The reunion triggers a series of events, which brings deeply submerged resentments and misconceptions to the surface.

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Catfish in Black Bean Sauce

Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 02/07/2001
1.5/4
Here's a first draft for a movie that could have been extraordinary. The story materials are rich and promising, but the film is a study in clumsy construction, dead-end scenes, murky motivation and unneeded complications. Go to Full Review David Noh Film Journal International 01/05/2007
Initially creates a delightfully diverse world in which no one is really as they seem to appear. Go to Full Review MaryAnn Johanson Flick Filosopher 12/30/2006
By turns whimsical and moving, Catfish touches on deeply emotional issues with refreshing and startling honesty... Go to Full Review Film Threat 12/06/2005
3/5
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 09/25/2005
2/5
Eric Lurio Greenwich Village Gazette 06/06/2005
2/5
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Audience Reviews

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Georgan G 08/13/2023 I wanted to like this movie, but it never got off the ground. The comedy was pretty lame and the drama was childish. Didn't understand how everyone ended up happy in the end. See more 04/16/2020 I really enjoyed this movie. I like the topic that it broaches, the tension between American Black and Asian culture, and I like the way it approaches that topic, a black couple from "da hood" adopts and does a fine job of raising 2 Asian children. I think this is a very worthwhile film that fell under the radar of too many. See more 09/02/2011 Me and my Nieces and nephews use to love to watch this movie, it brings back a lot of great memories. I'm a big fan of Sanaa Lathan ! See more 11/12/2009 A lovely, funny movie, enjoy! See more 10/18/2008 There is some good material here, and the tension between cultures analyzed here is one that is intriguing in that it often goes unconsidered. But, the script here is beyond unpolished. There are 50,000 subplots in the film, the vast majority of which are either unnecessary or unresolved at the conclusion. The lead romantic story is nothing but very awkward exchanges between actors that don't seem to click. Very jumbled. See more 10/14/2008 I love this movie.. i love how the cultures come together it showed me something hollywood never discusses in a good way asians and black and white people relations and living together positively See more Read all reviews
Catfish in Black Bean Sauce

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Cast & Crew

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Chi Muoi Lo

Director

Paul Winfield

Harold Williams

Mary Alice

Dolores Williams

Chi Muoi Lo

Dwayne Williams

Lauren Tom

Mai

Kiều Chinh

Thanh

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Catfish in Black Bean Sauce

(L to R) Vinh (Tzi Ma), Michael (Tyler Christopher), Mai (Lauren Tom), Dolores (Mary Alice) and Dwayne (Chi Muoi Lo). Dwayne (Chi Muoi Lo) and his best man Michael (Tyler Christopher) await the entrance of his new bride. Producer/Writer/Director Chi Muoi Lo with Young Dwayne (Kevin Lo). At the airport, Dwayne (Chi Muoi Lo), Dolores (Mary Alice) and Harold (Paul Winfield) anxiously await the arrival of Dwayne's birth mother. Dwayne (Chi Muoi Lo) with his girlfriend Nina (Sanaa Lathan). Catfish in Black Bean Sauce (1999) Catfish in Black Bean Sauce (1999) Catfish in Black Bean Sauce (1999) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis An offbeat dramatic comedy about an African American couple who adopt two orphans, a brother and sister from a Vietnamese refugee camp. After twenty-two years, Mal, the sister locates their birth mother, who was separated from her children during the war, and brings her to America, while Dwayne, the brother has conflicting feelings concerning the new arrival. The reunion triggers a series of events, which brings deeply submerged resentments and misconceptions to the surface.
Director
Chi Muoi Lo
Producer
Chi Muoi Lo
Screenwriter
Chi Muoi Lo
Distributor
Phaedra Cinema
Production Co
Black Hawk Entertainment
Rating
PG-13 (Brief Strong Language|Sexual Content)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 9, 2000, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 25, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.3M
Runtime
1h 59m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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